The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2133, 8 March 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1870.

The war policy of the Fox administration stands in glaring contrast to that of the late Government in more respects than one. The Stafford Ministry allowed the country to drift into war through sheer apathy. It was evident for some time before it broke out that mischief was brewing : there were the usual ominous murmurings that portend the storm. There were warnings in different parts of the North Island, from men that were in authority, and men that were in danger ; there were armings among the Natives, and threatenings from different tribes, Mr Stafford and his colleagues appeared to look upon all this stir and evidence of danger with the calmness of stoics. So unmoved were they, that anyone estimating from their actions

the springs of thought within them would have imagined they held the Turkish doctrine of fatalism. The only evidence of policy was that means were taken to remove anyone avlio understood what he was doing. Thus the present Defence Minister incurred the penalty of dismissal, and the Colonial force's instead of being kept in a high state ot discipline, were permitted to fall into disorderly habits. Precaution appeared to be out of their minds altogether, while such a doctrine as prevention, if ever dreamt of, was certainly never attempted. Different leaders in different parts of the country seem to have held pretty nearly irresponsible command, and, like Major St. John —we think it was—assumed the power of levying war for the sake of keeping their men employed. To men who know how to adapt means to ends the result was not surprising. The disasters at Patea and the Chatham Islands are traceable to this imbecility. The Ministry seemed to be of the class who had faith without works, and were only roused to action when they found they had trusted to a lying spirit. The present Ministry assumed office after the reaction had taken place, and after enormous expense had been incurred and gigantic preparations made to retrieve the errors committed. They found it necessary to retire from risky positions that exposed the Colonial forces to dangers and sufferings and rendered even victory of doubtful advantage. They found it necessary to reorganise the ill-equipped and illassorted defence force, and to place it on a different footing from what it had been before. They introduced an Act which gives the power to deal with natives taken in arms as rebels against the Queen’s authority, and instead of sending prisoners to Kawau or the Chatham Islands, or confining them on board the hulks at Wellington, they have sent them to Otago, to be employed in the midst of a busy population, and to be subjected to rigorous supervision, so that escape is next to impossible. As a corollary to this decided mode of action, it would be in the highest degree impolitic to leave any stone unturned to capture Te Kooti. But instead of exposing lives valuable to the Colony to danger in following the savage into his lairs in the interior, they have offered a reward calculated to incite the natives themselves to follow him up. Set a thief to catch a thief, as a matter of expediency, is sometimes advisable. It does not follow that an honest man might not be able to catch him ; but where risk is concerned in Maori catching, it is wise to throw it upon those who, if foiled, would not impair the prestige of the Colonial force. If the Maoris succeed in securing or destroying Te Kooti they get the reward; if in catching him they “ catch a Tartar,” there will still be the advantage of a mutual weakening by dividing a house against itself. It is far better to employ Maori against Maori than to unite them in a common league against Ghoorkas. But in no respect do the present Government appear to more advantage than in their choice of men to do the work. There is a -wide contrast between Mr M‘Lean and Colonel Haultain, much to the advantage of the former. Then, as an organiser, Mr Branioan is too well known to need commendation. Even the very stand taken with regard to Native matters points to changes for the better. There is no temporising. Mr Firth, Mr Parris, and Mr Mantell are kept in their places. There is evidence of a firmness and steadiness of purpose that have hitherto had no parallel in the Governmental management of Native affairs. However it may be regretted, it is becoming manifest in New Zealand, as in every other place, in dealing with savage or partially savage tribes, that severity within limits is the highest humanity, and that every departure from it is construed into fear. It has been charged upon Mr M‘Lean that he maintains his influence ovei the Natives by a revival of the sugar and blanket system. If so, unless it can be proved that he bribes rebels into quietude, which we do not believe, few would object to relieving the necessitous and distressed. But we venture to think that even this charge is to a great extent unfounded, and that his success, as a Native Minister, is owing to his knowledge of native habits and his adaptation of measures to them. On whatauLhority we donotknow; but it has been vaguely assumed that the present Ministry are spending^large sums on the war. This is hardly likely. The expeditions have been few, the head money of the 18th Regiment is saved for some mouths, and the only expense, as far as we know, is that of arming and maintaining in high efficiency the Constabulary Porce —a precautionary measure that will do more to establish and maintain peace than any number of Maori hunting expeditions, the effect of which is to drive in ceaseless round an active enemy from one stronghold to another.

The Wesleyan Bazaar. The bazaar is to be closed this evening, when all articles remaining on hand will be disposed of by auction, without reserve. Last night L 72 were taken, making the total proceeds considerably over L 720. City Police Court. —The business transited in this Court to-day was uniniurrUnt. J. O. Mitre, charged with drunkenness,. did not make his appearance, and hj s bail was forfeited. A charge of hawking without a be use was dismissed with a caution. The presiding magistrates were his Worship the Mayor and Thomas Dick, Esq , J.P. The Dunedin Private Musical Society— The Society is progressing unde• Mr May’s ma mgi-m mt and seem lik ly if they persevere to take an equal p"Sitibn \vi hj the musical so ieties in the older col mies Haydn’s “Creation” is in course of rehearsal, and as the instrumentalists have the necessary score, when produced the efleet will he snpo'ii.r to anything yet known in Dunedin The only thing required is industry and perseverance in the members.

Wool.—B y the last mail, the Provincia' Governin'nt received from the Bradfnrd Chamber of Commerce sa i-pk-s of Cheviot, bog, and wether, and Lincoln and No-folk wether wool, such as should be imitated by the growers in New Zealand as they arc very suitable for the worsted district, and would yield high prices at the sales.— Press. *

The North. —The following items received by telegram from Wellington, appear in the Press:— Williams, one of the three prisoners who escaped from Napier gaol, was captured yesterday at the Upper Hutt.— John S. Butt, who was remanded, charged with embezzlement from Turnbull, Reeves, and Co., is committed for trial. —A public meeting is called by forty-seven influential citizens for the 10th, to consider Walter Tricker’s case, affording an opportunity for the expression of an unbiasied public opinion of the merits of Tricker’s release. Canterbury Superintendency. We observe, says the Timaru Herald, that our Christchurch contemporaries are singularly silent on the coming c ntest for the which is so freely talked of in private circles. First one genii man and tnen another is rumored as an intending c.n ida’c ;nd so many arc named that we I egi” to think ilia thr atoned opposition to Mr Bolleston’s re-election will c d m smoke. The latest minor is that Mr ( Tacroft Wilson will contest the seat if a c-rtain amount of support he guaranteed to him. and it is said that a firm largely interested in the prosecution of railway wot ks is endeavoiiug to feel the public pulse on the question. Candid County Councillors. Some extremely candid ami, no doubt, sincere expressions of opinion have recently been made in the Westland County Council. When the question of payment of members was discussed, Mr Hoos spoke in the following emphatic terms : — <( 1 hold it that allper-ons who come to this Coast do so to make a living, not to spend a fortune or waste their time. ’Tis a good and true maxim that the laborer is worthy of his hire, and the maxim holds good as much to the servant of the public as to the servant of an individual. Xam quite sure that the people of Westland do not expect", noi would they wish their members to give their time and services lor nothing. Every verson comes to make a living, and when that is got, to get something more f >r a rainy day. Ido not believe that anyone opposes payment of members. There was an opposition, but it was simply an election cry, got up and maintained fur a purpose, to obtain popularity, which purposes haying been achieved, the cry is retracted. 'I he bon, member for Hok tika (Mr White) has said that we should look at the question for the Copnty, and not for ourselves. I differ from him. I think that in the first instance every member should look out for himself and then for the County. —(Laughter, and cries of “ Oh, oh.”) I repeat it. Everyone in Hie County does so ; everyone looks out for himself, and no one can be found to sacrifice all his possessions for the benefit of his fellow men.” Mr Harrison, in one part of his speech, uses the following words:—“l confess to being a professional politician in the limber sense of the term ; not following the piofession with the mean, sordid idea about a pound a day, or any remuneration so paltry. T could earn twenty times the amount in other pursuits were I to devote to them the tune and attention that I have done here, and so no doubt could oilier members of this Council. When styling myself apo itician by profession, I do not use the term as it is used outside, where it is made a reproach and an insult. 1 certainly agree with the hon. member for Hokitika in his objection to the term honorarium, which appears to me to be a misnomer, and should be styled payment of members.”

The second exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society will he held at the Post Office Hall on Friday next.

Tomorrow evening there will be service at St. Paul’s Church at 7.30. The Primate of New Zealand will prcacb, and the offertory will bo appropriated to the Sunday schools connected with the Church.